ZRG Assists Purpose Brands with CEO Search
December 17, 2024 – Global talent advisory firm ZRG has recruited Tom Leverton as the new CEO of Purpose Brands, LLC, the $3.7 billion global wellness holdings company formed by the merger of Orangetheory Fitness and Self Esteem Brands. Dan Searby and Brian Meany led the assignment. “The creation of Purpose Brands gives us the opportunity to move fast and be flexible in the marketplace, and I’m confident that under Tom’s leadership we are positioned for rapid expansion and greater market share,” said Dave Long, co-founder of Orangetheory Fitness and co-chair of the Purpose Brands board. “Our innovation is powered by our portfolio brands’ franchisees and members, and together we’re more strongly positioned than ever to rapidly scale and improve the health and wellbeing of even more people worldwide. The future of global wellness, from advancements in fitness technology to even better medical outcomes and community health, is a calling for us all, and we will stay a step ahead with a relentless focus to help people live better, longer lives.”
“There has never been a better time to be a fitness and wellness consumer, and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Tom to the Purpose Brands family,” said Chuck Runyon, co-chair of the Purpose Brands board, former CEO of Self Esteem Brands and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. “With more people seeking science-backed, highly personalized health and wellness services and support, each of our brands are positioned to anticipate and meet these demands. With Tom’s stellar leadership and development track record now at the helm of Purpose Brands, we have significant opportunity to expand our global footprint, invest even more aggressively in leading-edge data, technology, products and services, and drive even stronger preference for our brands. This is an amazing opportunity to position our portfolio brands’ franchisees for greater success and ensure our members have an exceptional experience with us on their personal wellness journeys.”
Most recently, Mr. Leverton served as an operating partner at Pritzker Private Capital, co-leading the firm’s activities in the services sector. He’s also previously served as CEO of CEC Entertainment (parent company of Chuck E. Cheese), Topgolf and Omniflight, and formerly served as chief development officer at FedEx Office.
Mr. Leverton arrives as the $6.3 trillion global wellness economy is projected to reach $9 trillion by 2028, with the physical activity sector and digital fitness projected to grow six percent and 17 percent, respectively, year over year. He is tasked with steering the financial performance, workplace culture, innovation and continued global expansion of the Purpose Brands portfolio and services. In addition to being appointed CEO, Mr. Leverton also joins the Purpose Brands board of directors.
Pivotal Time for the Global Wellness Industry
“I’m honored to join Purpose Brands at such a pivotal time for the global wellness industry,” said Mr. Leverton. “The world is rapidly evolving beyond both fitness and traditional medical care, as more people than ever seek holistic, preventative wellness services to stay physically strong, improve mental health, and improve longevity. It’s exciting to join a trusted leader already providing effective fitness and wellness services to thousands of communities and millions of people around the world. I look forward to working with our people and franchise owners across all brands to cultivate a culture of purpose and build a future where wellness services are accessible for everyone.”
Purpose Brands is the parent of the world’s largest and most trusted portfolio of fitness, health and wellness franchise brands and services, including Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Waxing the City, Basecamp Fitness/SUMHIIT Fitness, The Bar Method, Stronger U Nutrition, Healthy Contributions and Provision Security. Collectively, the company operates in more than 7,000 locations – with 46 percent outside the U.S. – providing health and wellness services to 6 million members across 50 countries and territories on all seven continents.
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ZRG, founded in 1999, is a mid-sized global executive search firm and one of the fastest growing in the search industry, with the financial backing of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners. It provides a full suite of executive, middle management, and customized search solutions through its offices in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The firm finds leaders across a broad spectrum of business markets, including aerospace, consumer, education, healthcare services, and solutions, industrial, life sciences, non-profit, private equity and venture capital, and technology. ZRG is based in Rochelle Park, NJ.
Mr. Searby is a managing director with ZRG. He has spent his entire career in the consumer and retail/foodservice sectors, working on both the manufacturer and multi-unit operator sides before entering executive search in 2005. Mr. Searby has led extensive CEO and president-level searches and in the last 10 years; 78 percent of his searches have been at the C-suite level across all functions, and 71 percent of his searches have been conducted on behalf of private equity or private capital portfolio companies. He has built relationships in the foodservice and restaurant sectors, industries.
Mr. Meany, a managing partner at ZRG, leads the firm’s global consumer practice. Based in New York, he specializes in the recruitment of CEOs, boards of directors, and C-suite leaders. His consumer and retail client work includes global CPG, middle market consumer, omnichannel retailers, pure play digital, restaurants, food and drug, hospitality, and leisure. Mr. Meany’s clients include publicly held, private, private equity-backed and founder-led models. In his 30-plus years of executive search, he spent 25 years as managing director with Herbert Mines Associates, focused on retail and consumer client work. He also led their globe search group partnership, working with international partners and clients. He began his career at Korn Ferry and Norman Broadbent.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
